Postage meter



6 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. L. MACK POSTAGE METER Filed April 26, 1921 Feb. 24, 1925.

H WINMN I G I 3 fur/605w Feb. 24, 1925...

L. L. MACK POSTAGE METER Filed April 25, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 24, 1925. 11,527,365 L. L.IMACK POS TAGE METER Filed April 26, 1921 6 Sheets-Shg e't 5 Feb. 24,1925. 1,527,365

L. L. MACK POSTAGE METER Fil ed April 26, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 a I J4? L. L. MACK PosTAGs' METER Filed April 26, 1921 s sheets-shew 5 Feb. 24, 1-925. 1,527,365

L. L. MACK POSTAGE METER 6 Sheet's-$heet 6 Filed April 26, 1921 JIIIJIIIIIEWEII Patented Feb. 24, 1925. V

UNITED s A TES] PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER L. MACK, OF SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSICNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO MACK PCSTOGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.'

ros'rnen METER.

, Application filed April 26, 1921. Serial No. 464,745.

To all whom it mau concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER L. MACK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Postage Meters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in particular to a type of postage meter machines capable of applying to letters and post cardsthe usual post mark and certain indicia in addition to the post mark, for indicating the pre-pay ment of the postage thereon. It is contemplated in the use of machines of'this character that large business houses, mail order concerns, and public service corporations such as light, gas and telephone companies may pass all of their regular mail matter through machines containing my improvements and imprint thereon a permit number and indicia for indicating prepaid postage, and thus greatly economize in handling and expediting the outgoing mail matter.

It will be understood that the operation of machines containing my improvements mustof necessity, be under the observation and control, and subject to the proper regulation of the post oflice officials, and afurther object of myinvention, therefore, is to provide in a machine of the character mentioned, a printing mechanism arranged so that the parts thereof will at all times be inaccessible to the users ofthemachines, and

may not be in any way tampered with and so that access may be had to the machines at any time by the proper officials for the purpose of inspection, repairs-or regulation.

In the use of machines of this character it is contemplated that the printing mechanism will be self-contained together with all parts which relate to and are operably connected for effecting the marking of the mail matter and enclosed in a suitable cylinder, or housing, which may be readily detached from and attached to the forwarding mechanism of the machine for rendering the printing mechanism, respectively, inoperative and operative, at will 1 Vhen operably connected with the machine, the printing head, which includes all of the mechanism necessary for the effective printing of the mail matter, is rbtatably disposed and positively connected with the remaining mechanism of the machine, for continuous rotation. The mechanism included in the head is" of such character that the postage printing die will not be exposed for operation when no letters or cards are moving through the machine, and said die is rendered operative by the passage of the letters or cards therethrough.

The printing head is adapted to be detached from the machineand carried to the .post office where it may be set for printing a predetermined number of impressions and is housed within a separable casing having a lock, the key of which is retained and at all times held in the custody of the post oflice officials, so that the casing may not be unlocked for the purpose of obtaining access to the printing mechanism, except by the proper oflicials. A government seal may also be provided on'the printing head sothat-fin' the event the lock should be tampered with and opened, in an unauthorized manner, the breaking of the seal would in itself indicate unauthorized access to the printing mechanism. a

In connection with the printing mechanism, briefly described, I have also provided certain new and useful improvements in the forwarding mechanism, whereby the letters or cards are advanced single file into and through the machine and are stacked after the marking operation. provided a novel form of inking mechanism by means of which the ink is applied to the I have also nism is incapable of use in connection with any other form of actuating mechanism and inview of these factsIhave provided a new, novel and useful combination of elements in a mail marking machine, which jointly combine to eifectthe satisfactory results accomplished.

In all types of mail marking machines in vogue today and for which Letters Patent have been heretofore issued, it will be understood that the machines are of two distinct types, namely, machines having rotating printing heads in which the rotation of the heads is continuous, and machines having intermittently rotatable printing heads. In the first type of machines all of the parts must be synochronized and properly timed so that the letters will reach. the printing point coincidentally with the printing die. In the last named type of-machine the printing head remains stationary during the intervals between the letters, and each letter in turn, as it is advanced into the machine, actuates a trip device which automatically releases the printing head and permits it to make one complete revolution, after which the head is stopped and held stationary until again actuated by a succeeding letter.

My machine is of the first type, and it is an object to provide an improved form of timing and forwarding mechanism whereby a stack of letters or cards may be automatically forwarded to the printing member in rapidsuccession, one at a time and thereafter stacked for removal from the machine.

It is also an object of my invention to provide means for actuating the timer mechani-' cally at each revolution of the printing head, so that in the event a letter is properly positioned for entrance into the forwarding mechanism of the machine, the same may be advanced to and by the printing member, but the letters in such case do not actuate the timing device, nor have they any operative relation thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide an actuator device which is also mechanically operated at each revolution of the printing head for effecting the printing operation and simultaneously releasing an impression member for holding the letter in firm contact with the dies and at the same time rendering the dies operative and record- .ing the impression on the recording mechanism of the printing head. Other objects may appear as the description progresses.

I have illustrated one practical embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, subject to modification within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an assembled machine embodying my improvements.

Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively, are diagrammatical views of the timing and, actuating elements, showing the progress of -a piece of mail matter thereby during the operation of the machine.

Fig. 6 1s a front side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a gearing plan for the same.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section of the machine on line 88 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a section of the same on line 9-9 of Fig. '2'.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section on line 1010 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a rear end elevation of the machine. I

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same on line 12-12 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevation on line 13 -13 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 14: is a section on line 1 1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 15 is a sectional plan on line 15-15 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation on line 1616 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation on line 1717 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the printing head and impression mechanism.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the same with the cover removed.

Fig. 20 is a plan of the same with the cover removed and the printing and recording mechanism omitte Fig. 21 is a sectional elevation on line 2121 of Fig. 19, of the printing mechanlsm.

Fig. 22 is a sectional plan of a portion of the printing mechanism on line 2222 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged plan view of a part of the timing, actuating and impression mechanism, showlng the operative connections therebetween, on a plane above the level of the bed plate.

Fig. 2 is a similar plan of a part of the same on a level below the bed plate.

Fig. 25 is a face view of the actuator and timer in operative relation.

Fig. 26 1s an enlarged View of the same.

Fig. 27 is a face view of the printing die.

Fig. 28 is a plan View of the inking mechanism.

Fig. 29 is a sectional plan of the same on line 2929 of Fig. 30.

Fig. 30 is a sectional elevation of the inking mechanism.

Fig. 31 is an enlarged plan view of the.

numbering and recording mechanism in the printing head, partly in section.

Fig. 32 is a sectional elevation of the numbering mechanism on line 3232 of Fig. 31.

Fig. 33 is a fragmentary plan, and Fig. 3 1 is a'section of the printing head showing the locking device for, the printing mechanism. 1

'Before proceeding with the detailed de scription of the structure and arrangement of all of the parts of my mechanism, I will briefly describe the several elements thereof, as follows:

The machineas shown and in its preferred form embodies a bed plate B of suitable form and size, and a. gear case 0 adapted to be attached to the bed plate, as hereinafter described. Mounted upon the upper surface of the bed plate and extending longitudinally thereof is a channeled runway W and at one end thereof is a feed box adapted to hold a relatively large number of letters or cards in stacked relation, edgewise of the bed plate, whereby they may be advanced single file into the machine, preparatory to the marking thereof. On the clock-wise direction; Substantially spaced from said feed rollers I provide a forwarding couple including a pair of rollers R and I R having a spindle stationarily held and cooperating yieldable rollers R and R transversely opposite the rollers R and R and mounted on yieldable spindles. Intermediate the feed rollers F and F and said forwarding couple, I provide an idler roller I and transversely aligned therewith a stationary frictional element S which constitut-es a separator for separating the letters successively from the stack and cooperating with the roller F and F for advancing the mail matter in single file to the rollers R, R, R and R A primary timing member T is pivotallyv mounted on one side of the path of the mail matter and is adapted to press against the innermost side of the stack of letters in the feed box for preventing the contact of the innermost letter with the frictional surface ofthe rollers F and F, except at properly 'timed intervals, as hereinafter described.

A secondary timer T is mounted between the rollers R and R and has its extended end protruding across the path of the mail matter, whereby the letters may be stopped in their passage through the machine until the proper time for registering with the printing mechanism.

A printing head P is substantially spaced forwardly of the rollers R and R and on thesame side of the machine, and the removable top P thereof is provided with a frictional band R which is adapted to contact with an idler roller R on the opposite side of the machine. Below the roller R an impression roller R is provided and adapted for intermittent contact with the printing head for making an impression on the letters or cards. Substantially spaced for w'ardly of the printing head P and the rollers R and R 2. common form of stacking deflector D is rotatably mounted at'the end of the stacking tray A, and said deflector rotates in a clock-wise direction for moving the stack of letters outwardly on the stacker, so as to provide space for the successive letters. The inking mechanism E is suitably mounted on the bed plate B for cooperation with the printing head P so as to supply ink for the successive marking operations.

Now, it will be understood that the rollers F and F, R and R R and R and the deflector D operate in a clock-Wise direction, while the rb'llers R and R, and the printing head P and roller R operate in an anticlock-wise direction, so that the letters L may be moved from the feed box, one at a time, first into the grip of the rollers R and R R and R and thereafter into the grip of the rollers R and R and between the printing head P and the roller R one after the other. 7

The rollers F, F, R, R, R ,R R R and R have frictional bands of rubber or the like for firmly gripping and moving the letters L through the machine, and the rollers R and R are yieldably supported relative 1 to the rollers R and R, respectively, on one or a pair of arms, a, and the roller R is similarly held with respect to the roller R on an' arm a. ,The impressionroller R is also yieldably held on an arma and is normally spaced from the printing head P. The arms a, a and a are mounted on a spindle a mounted in a boss a on the top of the runway W, and the lower end of said spindle projects through the runway and therebelow, and has an arm a fixedthereto as shown in Figs. 12, 18, and 23 and will be hereinafter described.

The rollers R and R are held in resilient contact with the rollers R and R, respectively, by means of a spring 1' which engages the outer boss 1 of the arm a, and is xed atits inner end to a bracket 2 carried on the spindle a or attached to the side of the runway W. The roller R is similarly held in contact with rollers R' by means of a a. spring r which is also attached to the bracket 2. Y

The runway W is attached to the upper surface of the bed pklate B by, means of screws 3, 3, etc., and as a longitudinal rib 4 formed on the upper surface thereof and projecting upwardl therefrom for forming an; end to the feed ox, and through which, or over which, the rollers F and F project I fora sli ht distance. The rib 4 also extends forward y of the runway beneath the separator idler roller I, and the roller R to a point close to the impression rollerR a similar but shorter rib 5 is provided on the opposite. side of the runway and suhstantially parallels the rib 4 and extends from a point slightly forward of the separator roller S beneath the roller 3 in the direction of and close to the printing head P. Thus, the letters L as they move into the machine are guided into the grip of the rollers R, R and R and R". A diagonal rib 6 is also provided on the upper surface of the runway from the roller R and beneath the deflector D, and thence at an angle to the rear end of the stacking tray A for the purpose of guiding the letters onto the stacker. A I

As shown particularly in Fig. 12, the bed plate B has a smooth flat upper surface with a bed 7 formed on the central portion thereof, and projecting downwardly, and an apron 8 which extends completely around the bed plate and for a substantial distance downwardly for enclosing and obscuring the gear case G. Said gear case has a circular flange 9 which is adapted to be attached to the top of the bed plate B by means of screws 10, 10, etc., so as to form a leak proof joint therebetween. The gear case has an enclosing side ll and a bottom 12 with a pad 13 on the central portion thereof, as shown, the bottom of the gear case being substantially flush with the bottom of the bed plate.

VV1thin the gear case I provide a suitable train of gears which operatively connect and serve to drive the different elements hereinbefore described. These gears are driven by means of a vertical drive shaft 14 which is journaled in a bushing 15 held in the bed 13 of the gear case, and has an upwardly extended portion 16 over which is carried a driving gear G suitably attached at its hub to the driving shaft 14. The upper end of the shaft 14 is journaled in a bushing 17 held in bed plate B, as shown in Fig. 9, and a motor or other suitable source of power may be connected in any desired manner with the protruding end of the shaft 14.

Gears G and G are connected on opposite sides longitudinally of the gear case with the gear G and have shafts 18 and 19, respectively, which are journaled at their lower ends in cup bushings 20, as shown in Fig. 12, in the bed 13 of the gear case and in sleeve bushngs 21 at their upper ends in the bed 7 of the bed plate B. The upper ends of the shafts 18 and 19 are provided with spherical portions 22 which are adapted to be pivotally connected to universal joint sections 23 and said portions 23 are similarly connected at their upper ends to continuations 18' and19 of the shafts 18 and 19, respectively.

The portions 18 and 19 are rotatably held in the arms a and a" and suitably fixed to the rollers R and R for effecting the rotation thereof, when the gears G and G are rotated. The shaft section 18 also extends through the roller R and is fixed thereto so that both the rollers R and B may be positively rotated. The roller Bf however, is loosely held on a short shaft section 19 which may be fixed in the arm a and is driven by frictional contact with The gear G meshes with an idler gear G carried on the shaft 25 which is similarly journaled in the bed plate and gear case in bushings similar to those described for the other shafts, and this gear in turn meshes with and drives a gear G carried on a shaft 26 which is journaled in a bushing in the bottom of the bed plate, and the upper end of which is journaled in a bushing 21 in the bed plate B and terminates substantially below the upper side of the bed plate and is provided with a groove 27 adapted to receive a. correspondingly formed tongue 28 on the lower end of the continuing shaft 26, as shown in Fig. 14.

The shaft 26 is also journaled in the bushing 21 in the bed plate, and extends upwardly through and is journaled in a bush ing 29 carried in a boss 30 formed on the runway W. The upper end of said shaft carries the feed rollers F and F and the lower roller F is adapted to be fixed to the shaft 26 by means of a pin 31, or otherwise, while the upper roller F may be operatively connected therewith by a tongue groove connection 32, as shown in Fig. 14. A screw 24 also serves to hold the roller F in operating position on the shaft 26.

The gear G also meshes with a gear G carried on a shaft 33 which is journaled in the bed plate and gear case, in the same manner as the other shafts described, said gear having a cup bushing 20 at the bottom and a sleeve bushing 21 at the top and having a continuing upper section 33 connected therewith by means of a tongue 28 and groove 27 correspondingly formed in the adjacent sections 33 and The upper end is also journaled in a sleeve bushing 29 held ina boss 34 on the runway W and the rollers R and R are fixed to the shaft section 33 in the same manner as the rollers R and R shown in Fig. 14. One of the screws 24 serves to hold the upper roller R in position on the shaft.

The gear G meshes with and drives a large master gear G which is connected with the printing head and serves to rotate the same, and a smaller gear Gr meshes with the gear Gr and is driven thereby for operatin the inking mechanism which will be hereinafter described. Gear G unlike the other gears described, has an upwardly extending shaft 35 which is journaled in the bed plate B and the gear case C and extends ing 37 carried in the floor of the bed plate B. The cam C is suitably attached. to the gear Gr so that the shaft 36 of the cam will serve as a driving shaft for said gear, and another cam C is mounted concentrically with the camv C and attached thereto by suitable means andencompasses the hub of gear G".

The gears G and cams C -and C are concentrically mounted on a solid shaft 38 which is slidably disposed within the hub 36 of the cam C and the lower end thereof extends downwardly into a cup bushing 39 carried in the bottom portion 13 of the gear case. Said shaft is held stationary in said bushing by means of a key 40 in the bushing 38. A sector 42 is provided between the bottom of the gear G and the top of the bushing 39 and is loosely mounted on the lower end of the shaft 38 and has a hub 43 which is pivotally seated in the bushing 39. Sa d sector carries a pin 44 which is held at opposite ends in the wall of the hub 43 and extends through a diagonal slot 45 formed in the lower portion of the shaft 38 so that when the sector is oscillated the shaft 38 will'be reciprocated correspondingly. The operative connections of this shaft will be hereinafter described.

Referring to Figs. 13, 14 and 16, it will be observed that I have provided on the lower end of the shaft 26 a drum 46 which is preferably mounted on the depending end of the bushing 29 and the lower flange 47 of which drum is connected with one end of a coil spring 48, while the opposite end of said spring is connected with the floor of the bed plate B, the tension of said sprlng serving to rotate said drum in a given direction.

The runway W is of'channel cross section and to the rear sides 49 thereof I attach a tube 50 which extends transversely of the machine and has an elongated slot 51 in the upper side thereof. A' bracket 52 is provided with an elongated slide 53 which fits the interior of. said tube, and the forward end 54'of said slide is adapted to be connected with a flexible steel wire 55 which is wound around the drum 46 at its other end,

so that the tension of the spring .48 will tached a face plate 57 and the angle of said plate with respect to the plane of the rib 4 on the runway may be Changed at will, by

The upper end ofsaid bracket means of the adjustment of a set screw 58 carried in the swivel 56.

Now, it Will be understood that the.

bracket 52 and the face plate 57 may be drawn outwardly from the center of the machine so that a stack of letters or cards L, L, etc., may be held edgewise in the said box between the inner face of the plate 57 and the outer portion of the rollers F and F, and the outer face of the rib 4, as shown in Figs. 1 and 14. The tension of the spring 48 is sufficient to hold the letters in firm contact with the frictional bands 6, b, of the rollers F and F, so that the letters, one after the other, may be moved into the grip of the succeeding rollers and into registration with the printing head.

The rollers F, and F" are of slightly larger diameter than are gear connected .with, the rest of the rollers as hereinafter described, and shown in Fig. 7, so as to be capable of greater. peripheral speed than the other rollers. This provides for a maximum friction being exerted on the face of the innermost letter or card for advancing the same into the grip of the first set of rollers, and for overcoming the friction of i the separating members which will be described later on.

The friction of the rollers F and F is not at all times exerted on the innermost letter of the stack, for in such case one letter would closely follow another into the grip of the succeeding rollers, and this would prevent the accurate marking of the letters. In order to prevent this occurrence, I provide a primary timing member T which embodies an arm having lillbS 60, 60 mounted on a shaft 61 which carries the separator roller I.

The central portion of the timer T has a Hat plate 62 and the outermost end thereof 63 is disposed substantially on the transverse center line of the rollers F ant F and is adapted to engage the innermost letter of the stack in the feed box, as shown in Fig. 1. The timer T is: adapted for intermittent operation at each revolution of the printing head]? and the master gear G, and the ortion 63 thereof is retracted into the space tween' the rollers F and F for a sufficient length of time to insure the friction of the rollers F and F moving a letter between the roller I and the separator S forwardly of the machine against the auxiliary timer T", near the grip of the first set of forwarding rollers. V

The operation of the timer T is effected b means of the cam C mounted on the gear within the ear case. The shaft 61 of the timer depends into the gear case and carries an elongated arm "64 which is fixed to said shaft and carries a roller 65 on its free end adapted to engage the periphery of the cam C It will be noted by reference to Fig. 24 that cam C has an enlargement 66 thereon which, as the gear G and said cam rotate in an anti-clockwise direction, will serve to move the arm 64 outwardly from the axis of said gear and cam, and oscillate the shaft 61 in its bearings. This operation of the cam will move the free end 63 of the timer T into contact with the innermost letter of the stack in the said box, and will serve to hold said letter out of frictional contact with the rollers F and F. When the roller 65 on the arm 64 engages the inner portion of the cam C the arm 64 will be drawn inwardly against the reduced portion of the cam and the timer T will be retracted into the space between the rollers F and F by means of the tension of a spring 68 which may be connected at one end to the arm 64 and at its other end to any suitable part of the bed plate.

Thus, the friction of the rollers F and F will be in contact with the innermost letter of the stack, and cause said letter to be ad vanced forwardly as described. The length of time that the roller F and F are in contact with the letter is only sufficient to move the letter the distance from the separator into the grip of the first set of rollers, and it will be readily apparent that the operation of the timer T will be effected once for each revolution of the printing head and its master gear G As hereinbefore mentioned, the roller T is an idler and loosely mounted on the shaft 61 which supports the timer T, and the separator S is tightly mounted on a stem 70 carried in arms 71, 71 and includes a frictional band 72 which is incapable of rotation and is closely spaced with respect to the roller I. The arms 71 which support the separator S have acentral hub portion 74 which is pivoted on a pin 75 carried in a bracket 76. Said separator is yieldably supported on said bracket and is adapted to be held outwardly by means of a spring 77 carried on a pin 78 which extends at 1ts outer end through an arm 79, integral with the arms 71. Said spring may be adjusted as to tension, by means of an adjusting nut 80 on the inner portion of said pin. 9

Thus, the letters as they are moved forwardly by the friction of the rollers F and F into the grip of the roller I of the separator S will cause the member S to yield outwardly against the tension of the spring 77 to the extent of the thickness of the letter or card, but the friction exerted on all but the innermost letter or card will be sufficient to prevent but one of the cards passing between the members I and S, at a time.

Inasmuch as the rollers F and F only serve to advance each successive letter for a distance of about two inches, the second letter will be held with its forward edge in the grip of the members I and S until another operation.

Tt will be understood in the operation of a machine of this character that all letters or cards of equal weight and approximately the same thickness will be marked together, and to this end I have provided an adjustable support for the separator S, whereby when a succession of thick letters are to be marked, the normal space between the members T and S may be established to correspond to the thickness of the letters, so that the letters will feed into the machine in rapid succession and without delay.

This adjustment is accomplished bv means of a stationary base 80 which has a flat web 81 at the bottom held on the member W by means of screws 82, 82 and a pair of vertically spaced bosses 83, and 84, of integral form. The bracket 76 has a pair of similarly spaced lugs 85 and 86 which carry pins 87 and 88 respectively, and said pins are adjustably seated in the bosses 83 and 84. The supporting base 80 may be provided with an opening 89 at the boss 84, so that an adjusting nut 90 may be placed on the threaded end 91 of the pin 88. Thus, the adjustment of the nut 90 will cause the bracket 76 and the separator S to be moved transversely of the base to any desired extent. Bracket 76 may also have a face plate 92 thereon against which the inner ends of the letters may be held in contact, as shown in Fig. 1.

The auxiliary timer T and an actuator H are commonly pivoted on a vertical shaft 93 journaled in the bed plate and gear case in a manner similar to the other shafts described, and as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10. The actuator H is fixed to the shaft 93 and comprises an arm with a right angular extension 94 on its free end and having the outer surface thereof formed, in a curve concentric with the axis of the shaft 93. The extension 94 thereof, when the acturator is in normal position, is disposed directly across the path of the mail matter and in the space between the rollers R and R, R and R a guide plate 96 being pro- Vided in said space and having an opening 97 therein through which the portion 94 may project.

.The timer T is of substantially similar form, but has a lug 98 thereon, near its axis in which is held a pin 99, which is adapted to be engaged by the side 100 of the actuator when the same is swung in a clock-wise direction. The extended portion 101 of the timer T is similar in form to the portion 94 of the actuator, but is substantially shorter.

This portion 101 however is sufficiently long to provide a stop across the path of mail matter in the grip of the first set of .rollers. V The, lower end of the actuator shaft 93 carries a sector 102 which meshes with the sector 42 connected with the shaft 38, and

when shaft 93 is oscillated the sector 102' of shaft 38, due to the connections therebetween. V

The oscillation of shaft 93 is effected by meansof a cam C attached to the gear G", and arm 103 being fixed to the shaft 93 within the gear case and carrying a roller 104 which is adapted to contact with the periphery of the cam C Said cam has an enlargement 105 thereon which, when it en-, gages the roller 104, serves to oscillate the shaft 93, and the inclined portion 106 on the first of said cams is so arranged that the actuator H will be retracted completely from the path ofthe mail matter ust prior.

to the time when the frontedge of a letter would come into contact with the curved surface 95 thereof, and at this moment the face 100 of the actuator engages the pin 99 of the timer T and retracts the timer'from the face of the mail matter, -.atexactly the instant the letter contacts with the portion 101 thereof, so that the letter may enter the grip of the rollers R and R and R and R atithe proper time for registration with the die on the printing head.

Both the actuator H and the timer T" are restored immediately after a letter has entered the grip of said rollers, or if no letter 1' has entered. they will be restored and prevent the untimed entrance of a letter into the grip of said rollers. After a letter has entered the grip of said rollers, both the actuator H and the timer T will rest against the first of the letters, and the shaft 38 of the printing mechanism will be retained in its elevated position, and the sectors 42 and 102 in their operative positions until the rear end. of the letter has been discharged from the grip of the first set of rollers, whereupon both members will be restored to position across the path of the mail matter.

It is to be understood in this connection that the timer T and the actuat r H are mechanically operated at each revp ution of the printing head and they are not actuated by the letters as in the form of other machines ,where trips are operated as the letters move through the machine. Said devices are operated at each revolution of-the printing head -regardless of whether or not a letter is in the grip of the first set of rolleis, if no letter is in the grip of said rollers,

said members will be immediately restored and no record made on the registering device, and the impression roller. R will be held outwardly by means rhereinafter described. But, on the other hand if a letter is in the machine the fact that the actuator H is retained in itsretractedposition will permit the operation of the registering device and the impression mechanism.

The printing head P has a cam C attached thereto by means of screws 107 or 1 otherwise, and said cam has a depending hub 108 which is bored to receive the shaft 38, as shownin Fig. 18, and is operatively connected with the hub 36 of cam by a tongue and groove connection 109. The hub 108 of cam C is iournaled in the upper portion 110 of the bushing 37 and the flange 111 is provided on said bushing on the top of the bed plate B between which and the cam C an impression regulating cam C is loosely mounted on portion. 110 of bushing 37. Said arm is fixed to the shaft a and carries a roller 112 which engages the periphery of the cam C and also engages an enlargement 113 on-the cam C. radius of the portion 113 of cam C is slightly less than that of the enlarged portion 114 of cam C Cam C has a plurality of gear teeth 1155 cut in the, face thereof and is adapted to mesh with a sector 116 fixed to the shaft 93 above the level of the bed plate 13, so that when the shaft 93 is oscillated for retract- The ing the actuator H, the cam C will be cora may recede inwardly into contact with the printing die.

Now, it will be observed that regardless of whether or not a letter is in the machine for registration with the die on the printing head, the cam C will be actuatedat each revolutionof the gear G of the printing head, and when the actuator H and timer T are actuated, but if no letter has entered the grip of the first set of rollers, the immediate restoration of the ,timer and actuator will also effect the restoration of the cam C and the impression roller R will therefore be prevented from making contact with the die.

.If, however, a letter has entered the grip of the first set of rollers, the actuator M will. I

be held in its retracted positionan'd the cam C will be held away from the roller 112, so that as the printing head revolves and'the front end of the printing die and the front end of the letter reach a common point in the path of the letter the roller 112 will move into the depression 117 of cam G and the impression roller R will move into contact with the letter and hold the same firmly against thedie. When the rear 2 saidtop fits into the cylinder P.

end of the letter emerges from the first set of rollers, the actuator H and the timer T will be restored to normal position and thus will effect the restoration of cam C meantime however, the-portion 114 of cam C will have restored the roller R to its nor mally spaced relation with respect to the printing head.

The letters, after moving by the printing head, are stacked on the stacker A by means of the deflector D which is rotatably supported on a sectional shaft 118 inthe same manner as the other shafts, and is operated by means of a gear G which is operatively connected with the gear G by means of idler gears G and G carried on vertical shafts 119 and 120 respectively. This stacker follows the usualdesign of such devices and includes a movable plate 121 carried on a slide 122 which is movably sup ported on a transverse rod 123, suitably mounted on the stacker tray.

The stacker may be regulated as to width by means of an end member e having a bracket 124 which is slidably mounted on a pair of longitudinal rods 125 carried in brackets 126 and 127 attached to the member W. This end member may be adjusted longitudinally of the machine for accommodating the stacker to letters of difierent length, in the usual manner.

T will now describe the structure and operation of the printing mechanism. As hereinbefore stated, this machine is enclosed within a cylinder P having a detachable top P which is in effect a roller, designated as R said top having a frictional band I) thereon for contact with the band of the roller R The top P has a lock L concentrically mounted in the center thereof and a concentric flange 125 of An annular member is attached to the interior of said cylinder and has an encircling ring 127 thereon which closely fits the wall thereof, and against which the portion 125 of the top contacts. The ring 127 has a central boss 128 connected by means of arms 129. 129 with the annular portion thereof,

.and said hub has a slot 130 and an opening 131 thereabove in the top thereof, adapted to receive the pivoted locking member L" of the lock L. Thus, a key may be placed in the lock L for turning the member L so that the top P may be removed from the cylinder P and unauthorized access may notbe had to the interior of the printing head. The reciprocable shaft 38 of the printing head has a tongue and groove connection 38" with a continuation 38 which extends upwardly through the bottom Web 132 of the cylinder and substantially inwardly thereof.

On the interior of the cylinder P, I pro- Tn the- .in Fig. 19.

vide a cam if which has an enlarged portion 133 and a reduced portion 134, said cam having an upwardly extending hub 135 which is reduced at its upper end 136 and rotatably carries the hub 137 of a die supporting member 138. The hub 135 of cam C has a bore 139 therein which is adapted to slidably receive the upper portion of the shaft section 38 and a coil spring 140 is held in said hub between the upper end thereof and the upper end of said shaft, said spring serving to urge the shaft sections 38 and 38 downwardly so as to restore the same to nor mal position, cept when held up by the actuator H, as hereinbefore described. I also provide a concentric disc G above the cam C and said disc has a hub 141 which fits over the hub 135 of said cam and both said cam and said discs are stationarily held on the shaft 38 by means of a pin 142. A slot 143 is provided in the hub of the cam C to slidably receive a pin 142 when the shaft moves upwardly in the cylinder, but the disc C is adapted to move upwardly with said shaft for purposes hereinafter de scribed. The die support 138 has a concentrio wall 144 of substantial width with arms 145, 145 connecting the hub portion 146 therewith in a diametrical plane.

In the center of the said cylinder I provide a plurality of recording discs d, cl, etc, each of which has one notch d formed on the face thereof at the zero point. Said discs are concentrically mounted on a vertical pin cl which is journaled at the lower end in the hub 137 and at its upper end in a bar 146 which is attached at its ends 147, 147, to lugs 148. 148, formed on the support 138 by means of screws 149, 149. Said discs read from the bottom upwardly units, tens, thousands, ten-thousands, and hundred thousands, and as shown in Fig. 31 I may provide a stationary disc 150 between the upper disc 0? and the bar 146 with numerals thereon from O to 9 and graduations for indicating the proper positions of these discs, as hereinafter more fully explained.

The member 138 has an opening 151 in the periphery thereof, which is adapted to slidably'receive a die holder D which is arcuate in form and is adapted to detachably hold a printing die D of the character shown in Fig. 27. The member D has lugs 153 and 154 formed on the inner side thereof between which numbering wheels at, n, etc., are mounted on a pin 155 so that the. periphery of said wheels will be in alignment with the outer face of the die D as shown Said numbering wheels are arranged to read upwardly from units to tenthousands or more as the necessity may be, and are adapted to be operativelv connected with the recording discs (Z, in the manner shown in Figs. 31 and 32. Memmenace bers D and D project through a come spending opening in the cylinder 1 when 'in printing position.

Referring to Figs. 31 and 32, it will be noted that the numbering wheels 11, a, etc., are arranged to have their numbering faces formed with numerals thereon capable of printing the coi'lsecutive numbers on the mail matter marked by the machine. The actuating shaft 155 of the numbering wheels o l' the shaft (1 ol the recording discs is operatively connected by means of arms 156 and 157 lixed respectively to said shaft and .intm'connected by means of a linlc 1.58 so that when the numbering wheels are operated, the recording discs will also be correspondingly operated.

The shalt 155 of the numbering wheels has flanges l5!) and 160 integral therewith, and substantially spaced apart, and a pin 161 is held in said flanges and (1Xt0!)(lStllCl'QbtBtWOOfi. 'llhe nun'ibering wheels 'n have an enlarged bore 163 adapted to receive a stationary barrel 164 and the bores of said wheels have notches 165 cut therein at; regularly spaced points, there being ten of said notches to 'each wheel and one of said notches, as at 1613, being of substantially greater depth than the others. The pin 161, carries an actuating pawl 167 with blades 168 of difl'erent width and angularity, tor each of the numbering wheels. A pin I62 isheld in the end of the barrel 164 and carries a plurality of detent pawls 170, there being one for each ol said wheels, aml a comb spring 17] is attached to the shaft 155 and has its teeth resting resiliently against the pawls 170 for holding the same in the notches 165 of the mnnbering wheels. The barrel 16-1 has an opening 172 through which the pawls 168 operate, and a corresponding opening 173 through which the detent pawls operate, as shown in Fig. 31. Said barrel is held stationary at the bottom by means of a screw 174 extending through the lug 154 on the die support. Thus, as is'common with this form of counter each successive mmibering wheel will be moved one tenth of a revolution for each tenth movement of the wheel, and the depth of the large notches 166 permits the pawls 168 to drop thercinto when spring pressed as in other counters.

1 do not limit myself to this form or type of counter for any suitable mechanism may be used for actuating the numbering wheels, and a similar or different method may be employed for advancing the recording discs (1 simultaneously with the operation of the numbering wheels. The in r 153 on the die mounting I) has a pin 1 5 extended upwardly therefrom which conforms to the size of the slots d in the numbering discs d, and is adapted to seat in said slots when all of the'slots on the discs are in vertical alignment, so as to permit the die to be retracted into the cylinder.

This is accomplished in the following manner: The arms 145 on the support 138 have bosses 176 formed thereon which slidably receive pins 177 secured to bosses 178 on the memberl), and the inner ends of said pins have annular grooves 179 therein which receive the ends of a flat spring 180, which is fixed to the hub 137 of the member 11) by means of escrow 181. Thus, the tension of the spring 180 is exerted against the heads of the pins 177 and tends to move the members 1) and l) inwardly of the cylinder. 'llhis, however, is prevented, unless the slots (1 registration with the pin 175. Said discs are adapted to be set with respect to the member 150 for a predetermined number of lIl'lIJI'OSSlOIlS, which will bring the slot (1 in each of said discs in registration with said pin. For instance, the direction of rotation of the discs 11 being clock-wise as shown, if one thousand lll'lPI'CSSlOIlS are to be made, the units, tens and hundreds discs will be set with the notches d therein at the zero point, and in registration with the pin 175, while the thousands disc will be set one point to the left of the zero point, opposite the numeral 1 on the member 150. it fifteenhundred represents the number for which. the mechanism is to be set, the units and tens disc would be set at 0 the tens at l the hundreds at 5, and the thousands at l, with respect to the numbers on the member 150, and the discs would be correspondingly set for any desired number.

It will be noted here that, while the numboring wheels may be moved forwardly from the exterior of the printing member, they can not be moved bac'kwardly and that the operation of said wheels from the exterior of the cylinder will not any way affect the movement of the discs (I. The only re- ,sult in an occurrence of this kind would be the breaking of the sequence in the numbers on the letters, but it would not in any way affect the recording accomplished by means of the discs d.

Now, it will be observed by reference particularly to Figs. 18 to 21 inclusive, and also to Fig. 27, that thcusual form of post marking, including the place oforigin, date, time, the consecutive numbers and the mark are embodied in the die 1'), whereas the postage die is embodied in a separate member I) and said die is of rectangular form as shown in Fig. 22 and has a rearwardly extending stem 182 which is slidably held in a portion 183 of the member I). The shaft 155 of the numbering wheels is fixed at its lower end to a bell crank 184 which has an arm 185 pivotally connected to the stem 182 of the member D by means of a screw 186 and said bell crank also has an arm 187 which carries a roller 188 on its outer end. A spring 189 around a portion of the shaft 155 has one end resting against the inner face of the member 1) and the other end attached to the arm 185. The roller 188 on said bell crank engages the face of the cam C and also the edge of the disc C at the bottom of the cylinder P and when the disc C is held downwardly in normal position, as shown in Fig. 18, the roller 188 will be prevented from following the low portion 134 of the cam G and the die D will therefore be held inwardly against the tension of the spring 189. When the shafts 38 and 38 however are reciprocated upwardly between actuator H, and the disc C is also moved upwardly out of contact with the roller 188, and as a letter is moved into position said roller will follow the portion 144 of the cam C and permit the die D to be extended outwardly for marking the letter. \V hen no letter is in the grip of the first set of rollers the restoration of the actuator will also serve to restore the disc C before the low portion 134 of the cam C comes into contact with the roller 188 of the die D will therefore remain in its innermost position and out of printing position.

It will be understood from the foregoing description of my printing mechanism that it is especially necessary in order to efiect the printing of the stamp on the letter for the disc C to be elevated above the plane of the roller 188 and this can not be effected if any of the operative connections are destroyed or impaired. It is also necessary that the shaft 38, the disc 0 and the cam C should be held stationary when the printing head is rotated, and if the connections which establish this relationship are destroyed or impaired the device will not print, for the reason that when the said cam, said disc, and the printing head revolve together there could be no operation of the stamp printing die D Thus, the mechanism is incapable of being tampered with for the purpose of cheating or unauthorized use of the mechanism.

l/Vhen a predetermined number of impressions have been made as before stated, the member D will move inwardly, due to the tension of the spring 180 and the support 138, on which is mounted all of the numbering or printing mechanism, will rotate for a portion of a revolution within the cylinder P. This is accomplished by means of a coil spring 190 which is mounted in the bottom of the cylinder and has one of its ends fixed to the wall of the cylinder P at 191, and the other end fixed to a pin 192 carried in a lug 193 onthe bottom of the member 138.

Thus, when the die has receded inwardly of th cylinder and the die support has moved for a portion of a revolution, the

same may be locked by means of a plunger 194 slidably held in the arm 145 of the die support and having a head 195 thereon adapted to seat in a notch 196 formed in the lower edge of the ring 126. A spring 196 is carried on the plunger and is adapted to compress between the arm 145 and the head of the plunger for resiliently holding said head in contact with the ring 147, so that when the member 138 is rotated within the printing head by means of the spring 190 the head 195 will be forced upwardly into the notch 196, when they are brought into registration.

The printing head may be bodily removed from the machine, taken to the post office, opened and reset and thereafter placed in operative position in the machine by properly connecting the shafts 38 and 38 and the hubs 108 and 136. The connections between said members are such that they may be operatively connected only, thus eliminating the danger of any improper connection between the parts.

The inking mechanism E includes a housing E which has a lower cylindrical portion 200 in which a quantity of ink is adapted to be held, a central portion 201 and an upper portion of semi-cylindrical form 202, which is openat the top and adapted to be closed by means of a detachable top 203 which is adapted to be pivotally held on the vertical shaft 35 and substantially spaced from the portion 208. Thereabove I provide a lug 206 which revolubly receives the upper portion of the shaft 35. This construction is shown in Figs. 28, 29 and 30. The hub portion 204 may have a plurality of gear teeth 207 formed therein adapted to mesh with an adjusting screw 208 which is rotatably mounted in opposite lugs 209 and 210 of a bracket adapted to be attached to the bed plate B. Said screw has a knurled head 211 by means of which the screw may be rotated for swinging the inner housing E about the axis of the shaft 35.

Within the portion 202 of said housing, I provide an ink roller which includes a cylinder 212 having an absorbent ink pad of felt or the like, as at 213 mounted thereon and held between flanges 214 and 215. The upper end of the cylinder 212 carries a gear 216, which is operably connected with a gear 217 of like size and held on the reduced upper end 218 of shaft 35, by means of an idler gear 219 mounted on the portion 206 of the housing. Thus, the cylinder 212 will be caused to rotate at the same peripheral speed as the printing head and at the same axial speed as the shaft 35.

The cylinder 212 has an inner chamber 220 which is provided with a plurality of erforations 221 in.the wall thereof and beow which is an integrally formed hub portion 222 which rotatably seats in a corresponding opening in the portion 201 of the housing. Centrally mounted with respect to the cylinder, and fixed thereto I provide an helicalscrew 223 which is vertically disposed in the housing and is enclosed, with the ex- CEPiIOll of a small portion at the top, within a tube 22i. Said tube is fixed at its lower end so as to be stationarily held in a boss 225 formed on the bottom of the housing and has a plurality of perforations 226 formed therein, whereby the ink contained in the well at the bottom of the housing may be drawn into the interior of the tube 224: and thence upwardly by means of the rotation of the screw 223, from whence it will be discharged over the top of the tube into the chamber 220 of the cylinder 212. The hub 222 of said cylinder has a bore slightly larger thanthe tube 224 so as to afford ample clearance for the volume of ink contained in the chamber 220 to flow downwardly by gravity into the well at the bottom of the housing.

Ordinarily when this inker is in operation, the chamber 220 will be filled with ink, thus insuring a proper saturation of the pad 213 as long as the cylinder is rotated, but when I the rotation thereof is stopped, the ink held in the cylinderwill gradually flow down-- wardly into the well. The screw 223 is in effect a pump and the tube 224 a pump'casing, by means of which the ink is continuously raised from the bottom of the well into' the cylinder and caused to circulate at a-ll times during the operation of the machine, so that no sediment can collect at the bottom,

and a free and uninterrupted flow of ink may be had at all times to the ink pad. The

portion 202 of the housing'E has an opening 227 through which the roller 213 may make contact with the printing head for ink ing the print-ing dies at each operation thereof. "The adjustment of the inker relative to the printing head serves to regulate the supply of ink delivered to the printing dies.

Now, it will be understood that when the stamp printing member D is moved outwardly into printing position, due to the presence of a letter orcard at the timing position, the portion 134 of the cam C being of sufficient extent, will hold the member D outwardly after the printing operation until a supply of ink has been deposited thereon from the inker for atsucceedin operation.

Reviewing the detailed description of my mechanism contained in theforegoing specification, it will be apparent that the post marking die D which includes the usual circle having the place and date thereon, and the cancellation bars, is at all times held stationarily in printing position for contact with the inking roller, after having been set for a. predetermined number of impressions, and until this number of impremions have been made. 'The stamp printing member D however, while it is mounted on'the memmail matter,

ber D which also supper-ts the member D is moved into printing position only when a letter is being advanced to printing position, and is held retracted within the printing head at all other times and is incapable of being moved into printing position except when the presence of a letter or card etlects its operation.

Then a predetermined number of impressions have been made, it will be seen that both of the printing dies D and D together with their common mounting D will be moved inwardly of the printing head by nipulation for an unauthorized re-setting of tive when a piece of mail matter is moved by said printing means and inoperative when no piece of matter is so moved.

2. A mail markin machine having a rotatable'prmt-mg hea provided with a printing member, means operable at each revolution of saidhead for controlling the printing of the mail matter and disposed normally across the path of said matter, said means being restored prior to the advance of said matter for prevent-ing a printing operation when no piece of matter is in position to be printed and prevented from restoration by a piece of matter for efi'ecting the printing thereof.

' A mail marking machine. having a rotary printing head, means for advancing successive pieces of mail matter by said hea at regular intervals, a. printing member on said head, an actuator normally held in opposition to the passage of the mail matter, means for automatically retracting said actuator at each revolution of said head, the

movement of apiece of matter across the path of said actuator serving to hold said actuator in retracted position and render said printing member operative.

4. A mail markingmachine having a rotary printing head, means for advancing successive pieces of mail matter by said head at regular intervals, a printing member on saidhead, and an actuator normally opposed to the vpassage of the matter thereby and automatically operable at each revolution of said head for regulating the printing of the v 5. A mail marking machine havin a continuously rotatable printing head an printiao ing member supported thereon and capable of extension into the path of the mail matter, and means for automatically retracting and enclosing said printing member when a predetermined number of impressions have been made thereby.

6. A mail marking machine having a continuously rotatable printing head,"a printing member supported thereon, means operable at each revolution of said head fonadvancing successive pieces of mail matter to the printing'means, and means operable at each revolution of said head for regulating and effecting the printing of said matter.

7. A mail marking machine having a continuously rotatable printing head, a printing member supported thereon, means operable at each revolution of said head for advancing successive pieces of mail matter to the printing means, an actuator for controlling the printing of the matter and controlled by the passage of the mail matter for rendering the printing means operative.

8. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing head and a printing member supported thereonfmeans normally oppos ing the passage of mail matter and operable by and With each revolution of the printing means for moving successive pieces of matter to printing position, and means controlled jointly by said printing means and said mail matter for regulating and effecting the printing of the matter.

9. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing head, and a printing member supported thereon, means for extending and supporting said member in printing position, and means controlled by the number of impressions made by said printing memberfor retracting said member into anenclosing the same within said head against, further operation.

10. A mail marking machine having a ro tary printing head, a movably supported rinting member on said head, means for holding said member extended from said head for printing the mail matter, and means controlled by the number of impressions made for retracting said member to inoperative pgsition.

--11. A mail" marking machine having a rotary printing head, a movable printing member on said head, recording and numbering mechanism in said head for controlling the number of impressions made by said member, and means actuated by said' mechanism for retracting saidmember to inoperative position when a predetermined number of impressions have been made thereby.

12. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing head, a printing member carried on said head, automatically operable means for holding said member extended from the head inoperative position, and automatically operable means within said head for retracting said member to inoperative position Within said head, and means externally of said head for controlling the extension of said member.

13. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing head, a printing member on said head, means for holding said member in operative position, means within said head for retracting said member to inoperative position with the head, and means for rotating said member within the head when so retracted, and enclosing the same for preventing the unauthorized use thereof. a

14. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing head including a closed casing provided with an opening in the periphery thereof, a printing member sup ported in said cylinder and extensible through said opening to operative position, and means for automatically retracting said member to inoperative position within said cylinder, and closing said opening, for preventingunauthorized operation thereof.

15..A mail marking machine having a rotary printing head including separable members locked together against unauthorized access, a printing member supported in said rotary printing head and extensible therefrom to operative position and retractable thereinto to inoperative position, and means for closing said head against access When said-member is retracted.

16. A mail marking machine having a continuously rotatable printing head, a printing member extensibly supported thereon and having numbering mechanism for numbering the successive pieces of mail matter consecutively, and means connected with said numbering mechanism for rendering said printing means inoperative when a predetermined number of impressions have been made thereby.

17. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing head, a movable printing member supported thereon including a consecutive number device, means for supporting said printing member in operative position, and means controlled by said numbering device for retracting said member when a predetermined number of impressions have been made thereby.

18. A mail marking machine having a ro tary printing member for printing one piece of mail matter at each revolution thereof and including a consecutive numbering device, and means operable by said printing member and regulated by the presence of the matter at printing position, for rendering said member operative.

19. A mail marking machine having a retary printing member for consecutively printing and numbering each piece of mail matter at successive revolutions, and an actuator controlled by said printing member and said mail matter for rendering said lid printing member operative during a printing operation and means for rendering said printing member inoperative when a pre determined number of impressions have been i made thereby.

20. A mail marking machine including a continuously rotatable printing head embodying a separable closed cylinder, means for locking said cylinder against unauthorized access, printing means supported in and extensible from said cylinder, and means apart from said head for controlling the operation of said printing means.

21. A mail marking machine including a continuously rotatable cylinder having separable members, means for locking said members together against unauthorized access, a printing member mounted in and adapted to be normally closed by said cylinder when inoperative, and extensible therefrom into operative position, and means apart from said head including a member adapted for contact with the mail matter, for controlling the operation of said-printing member.

22. A mail marking machine including a rotary casing having separable members, means for locking said members together against unauthorized access, a printing member pivotally and reciprocably held in said casing and adapted to beenclosed thereby. when inoperative, for the purpose described.

23. A mail marking machine includin a rotary cylindrical printing head having separable members locked together, a printing member extensibly and retractably v mounted in said head, for rendering the tilt same operative and inoperative, at will.

24. A mail marking machine including a rotary printing head, a normally spaced impresslon member adjacent thereto, means for controlling the contact between said printing head and said impression member and including relatively rotary and oscillatable members controlled respectively by said head" and the pieces of mail matter, as described.

25. A mail marking machine including'a rotary printing head, a normally spaced impression member, a rotary member connected with said head for permitting contact between said head and said impression memher, and an-actuator operable at each revolution oi said head for releasing said impression member for contact therevvith and adapted to prevent contact between" said members when no matter is in position therebetvveen.

26.. A mail marking machine including a rotary printing head and an associated 1mpremion member normally spaced therefrom, a rotary cam connected with said head, a pivoted cam associated with said rotary cam, said cams serving to regulate the contact between said head and said impression member, and means actuated at each revolution of said head and cont 'olled by the passage rotary ,printing head, means automatically actuated at each revolution of said head for advancing successive pieces of matter to printing position, and an actuator also operable by and at each revolution of said head for controlling the printingo't the matter.

29. A mailmarking machine comprising a rotary printing head having a printing member for consecutively numbering the pieces of mail matter, means automatically actuated at each revolution of said head for advancing successive pieces of matter to printing position, and an actuator oper ableby and at each revolution of said head for controlling the printing of the matten 30. A mail marking machine comprising a rotary printing head having a printing member for consecutively numbering the separate pieces of matter, means operable at each revolution of said head for advancing successive pieces of the matter to printing position, and an actuator operable also at each revolution of said head for controlling the printing of the matter.

31. A mail marking machine comprising arotary printing head having a printing member for consecutively numbering the mail matter, means operable at each revolution of said head for advancing the successive pieces of matter to printing position,

erable at each revolution of said head for advancing successive pieces of the matter to printing position, an impression device cooperated with said head for edecting the printing member for consecutively numbering the pieces of matter, means opprinting oi matter moved adjacent said printing member, and means for locking said printing member against further use when a predetermined number of impressions have con made.

33. A mail marking machine com risin a rotary printing head a frictiona fe roller substantially in advance of said head for advancing successive pieces of matter to printing position, and means operable at each revolution of said head for regulatin the contact between said roller and sai matter, for moving the pieces of matter at regular timed intervals.

34. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing head, a frictional feed roller spaced therefrom, and a contact member operable at each revolution of said head for regulating the contact between said roller and the mail matter, for advancing succes' timed intervals to printing position.

36. A mail marking machine having a rotaryprinting head, means for forwarding mail matter in the path of said printing head for the printing operation, -a timer normally disposed across the path of said mail matter, means for retracting said timer at each revolution of said head for advancing the pieces of matter successively to printin position and simultaneously rendering sai printing head operative.

37. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing member, means for feeding mail matter to printing position, a timer normally opposing the passage of said matter and retractable for advancing the matter to printing position, and an actuator for retracting said timer at each revolution of said printing member and rendering said printing member operative for printing the matter.

38. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing head, means for feeding ieces of mail matter successively to printmg position, a timer normally opposing the passage of the matter, an actuator operable at each revolution of said head connected with and adapted to retract said timer for advancing the pieces of matter successively to printing position, and means connecting said actuator and said printing head for rendering the printing member operative when each piece of matter is advanced thereto.

39. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing head, frictional feed elements for advancing pieces of mail matter successively to printing position, a. contact member operabl at each revolution of said head for rendering said feed elements operative, a timer normally opposing the passage of matter to the printing position and retractable at each revolution of said head for forwarding the matter to printing position at timed intervals, and an actuator operable at each revolution of said head and controlling the operation of said timer and the printing member.

40. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing head, means for feeding pieces of mail matter successively to printing position, a contact member operable at each revolution of said head for advancing successive pieces of matter at regularly timed intervals, a timer normally opposing the passage of said matter by a given point and retractablevat each revolution of said head for further advancing the matter to printing position, an impression member normally spaced from said printing head. and

an actuator operatively connected for controlling the opcration of said timer. printing head and impression members when matter is advanced to printing position.

41. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing member for printing and consecutively numbering successive pieces of mail matter, means for feeding pieces 0 matter to a common point in advance of the printing member, one at a time, means thereat for retarding the progress of the matter and advancing the same-at regularly timed intervals to the printing point,means oper able at each revolution of the printing member for regulating and effecting the printing of the matter, and means connected with said regulating means for rendering said printing means inoperative when a predetermined number of impressions have been made thereby.

' 42. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing member and an actuating member normally opposing the passage of matter thereby, and means for automatically retracting said member for permitting the movement of the matter to printing position at each revolution of said printing member.

43. A mail marking machine having a rotary printing member, an actuating member normally opposing the passage of matter thereby, means operable at each revolution of said printing member for retracting said actuating member to permit the passage of the matter to printing position. the movement of said matter across the path of said actuator serving to render said printing member operative.

44. A-mail marking machine having a rotary printing member, an actuator normally opposing the passage of the matter to printing positioni means operable at each revolution of said printing member for retracting said actuator. the said matter when adjacent said actuator serving to hold said actuator retracted during the passage there- 

